The PM Observer

Forgive me, ganttheads. It's time to come clean. 

I am a shameless follower of reality television.

There, I said it. Now, before you roll your eyes and click off to somewhere else, let me explain how GREAT this is for project management. If you take a moment to cruise the cable box, you will see bunches and bunches of PM-based shows. Bravo TV is one of the best sources of real-life project management you'll find (Real Housewives notwithstanding...although, I do keep an eye on the "ladies," just so make sure.) Top Chef, Top Design, Shear Genius, Work of Art...those are all mini-project challenge shows, and may the best PM win. I would even argue (if anyone cares to) that Millionaire Matchmaker and Thintervention (I wish I had come up with that name) are all about repeatable process. And if Jeff Lewis, the bitchy, demanding, obsessive/compulsive and really funny real estate investor/home designer of Flipping Out, isn't the stereotype of stressed out project manager without an internal censor, I'll buy lunch--but NO ONIONS!!

America's Next Top Project Manager.

I'll have more to say about Jeff later. He is a wonderful representative of project managers, because his behavior and ranting is so refreshingly unfiltered. He freely admits that his ideal client is someone who gives him a pile of money and goes away until he's done doing what HE wants to do. He bemoans his work schedule and frustration at juggling projects, and he instituted a working happy hour this year to appease his grumbling team...but I found it interesting that as his work has changed, he recognizes that the people he has may not be the people he needs NOW. Change is coming to the Jeff Lewis team, and I'm curious to see how he manages that. (For those who don't watch--yet--Jeff's not really a "people person."

For now, I'll take Bravo's advice to "Watch What Happens"....so you don't have to. And I'll keep you in the loop. 

In 1999, I joined a nascent gantthead as its "ruthless" editor--at least that's what the ad said. Having no ruth whatsoever, I figured I qualified. I didn't really understand "project management" as a profession or an industry, but I had been running a print magazine for several years, so I knew about managing projects. I just didn't know that there was a name for it, or any kind of standardized way of doing it. Many years later, I've learned that lots of people seem to stumble into project management that way. Or they did...It seems that more and more people in business are recognizing PM as a legitimate (and crucial) function in their organization--rather than just this vague idea that someone should be keeping track of stuff and there seems to be someone in the company with a knack for that.

Since I've been here, I see project management everywhere (and I don't JUST mean because I spend a lot of time at gantthead). I see it in my life as a parent, as a community theater actor, as a customer and client to any number of businesses. I see it in television and sports and other forms of entertainment. Mostly, I see where it's failing, but occasionally, I see some beautiful, poetic example of project management working magic where you least expect it.

I intend to use this space to comment on the project management I see around me. I'm a bit of an "outsider", as I've never really trained as a project manager, and I've never had to "be" a "project manager" (aside: ALL respect to EVERY project manager out here--I am continually amazed at the pressure you people work under). I'm also a bit of an "insider" since I have been living among you for a decade now, listening to your conversations, watching your movements--I have an idea of what makes you frustrated and furious and defeated and elated and proud to be a PM...and I think I get it. I'm sure you'll let me know if I don't. :-)

So let me know what I'm getting right; let me know what I'm missing. What are the unlikely places where you find project management? How would you improve the world around you with your project management knowledge and skills? Talk to me, people!